...today's iPod Shuffle:
1. "Hammond Song" by The Roches
2. "Hot Topic" by LeTigre
3. "Spark" by Tori Amos
4. "It Don't Matter To Me" by Bread
5. "Dreamin'" by Marlena Shaw

...AND, THEY CALL IT CASUAL CAR POOL

I've been hearing members of the staff at my office refer to their car pools since I started working at this firm. Their stories are funny, but after a while it began to sound as if they was an incredible number of people in their respective pools. And, then I heard someone call it "Casual Car Pool" ---- for those of you, like me, who may not know what that means -- People who live in the East Bay area of Northern California "enjoy" a system in which one stands in a line at one of several parking lots waiting for a random car to drive by and pick them up. One simply gets in the car --- and there must be a minimum of 2 people who get in and this car is then able to to drive in a special lane at a higher speed into the city. The same is true on the return drive from SF back to the East Bay. There is no charge and only one "ground rule" which does not seem to be followed. The rules are that one does not speak unless spoken to --- clearly everyone speaks to everyone. The whole thing seems like a tragedy waiting to happen. It already sounds like there are guy drivers who only want the hottest "chicks" in their cars and women who fear getting into the cars driven by men. I just don't know.

The very idea of just jumping into a stranger's car with other strangers really creeps me out. I mean, why not just hitch hike for Christ''s sake!?!? But, folks here seem to love the concept and enjoy their "war" or "casual car pooling" stories. I am such a magnet for freaks I am certain that my ride in the casual pool would result in some odd adventure that I do not care to experience. I've been haunted by nightmares. Dreams of psycho casual pool drivers and crazed passengers to whom I've given up the power to screw with my destiny. The dreams tend to involve raw meat, assorted knives, screw drivers and spiked collars. Someone told me that my worries over this "cool" concept are a result of my "old age" ---- maybe so!

And, my "old age" hit me today when I discovered this "kid" --- for whom I have a great deal of respect (highly intelligent, creative with strong business insight) --- turns out to 29 years old. Hardly a child. Yet, to me he looks like one. Oy. But, I did have one positive self-realization today. Some marketing person tried to hand me a free sample candy bar as I was rushing down Market Street. I declined and she said, "Come on, skinny --- you can have some candy!" I just ignored her. But, later when I was eating my lunch a passing individual commented, "I hate you! I bet you can eat anything you want and just stay skinny!" ...the realization that I am now percieved as skinny made my day!

...but, no one is going to convince me that the concept of the casual car pool is a sane one!